New York Yankees (51-44) at Boston Red Sox (58-39), 7:10 p.m. (ET)

(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees won't have Derek Jeter in the lineup on Friday when they kick off the second half of the season with the first of three games against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.

After missing the first 91 games recovering from a fractured ankle, Jeter made his debut last Thursday against the Kansas City Royals. However, the future Hall of Famer was removed for a pinch hitter late in that contest with a quadriceps injury and sat out the Yankees' weekend series against the Minnesota Twins.

The Yankees placed Jeter on the disabled list Friday morning with a Grade 1 right quadriceps strain.

New York, though, should have All-Star second baseman Robinson Cano in the lineup. Cano started Tuesday's All-Star Game, but was removed in the first inning after being hit in his right leg by a 96-mph fastball from the Mets' Matt Harvey.

"They called (Yankees head athletic trainer Steve Donohue) and everything is good with them," Cano said. "They said just put ice on it, the X-ray was negative and get some rest."

New York can ill afford to lose Cano for any length of time, as the Yankees' offense is tied for 20th in runs with 373, is 28th in extra-base hits with 234 and 16th in walks with 273.

"We've got to be more consistent offensively," manager Joe Girardi said. "And if we do that, we're going to have a shot. But that's probably what we need to do, more than anything."

Despite an amazing rash of injuries and a patchwork lineup, Girardi's club is just six games back of the American League East-leading Red Sox and three games behind in the wild card.

Getting the call for the Yankees on Friday will be lefty Andy Pettitte, who won his final two starts before the break. Pettitte beat the Kansas City Royals last Thursday, as he gave up four runs (3 earned) and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings to run his record to 7-6 to go along with a 4.39 ERA.

Pettitte beat the Red Sox earlier in the year and is 19-10 lifetime against them with a 3.82 ERA in 40 games, 38 of which have been starts.

Boston, meanwhile, has enjoyed a terrific bounce back campaign under new manager John Farrell. After losing 93 games under Bobby Valentine last season, Farrell, a pitching coach with the Red Sox under Terry Francona, has turned things around and Boston begins its second half atop the American League East with the best record in the league at 58-39.

The Red Sox stand a good chance at stretching their lead, as 13 of their next 16 games will come at Fenway.

Heading to the hill for the Red Sox on Friday will be lefty Felix Doubront, who is 6-3 with a 3.91 ERA. Doubront won his second straight start on July 10 in Seattle, as he held the Mariners to a run and five hits over seven innings.

He is 2-1 in nine games (5 starts) versus the Yankees with a 2.52 ERA.

Boston has won four of its six games with the Yankees this season. However, this is the first series of the year between the two in Beantown, where the Yankees went 7-2 a year ago.

College Football For the moment college football has forgotten about college football in a mad dash forward to appease a small group of the viewing public and more importantly to make television advertisers happy....

College Football, Fantasy As we turn our calendars over to August, the college fantasy football season is kicking into high gear. Are you prepared? Athlon has teamed up with college fantasy veterans...

College Football, Overtime Michigan State is always among the elite in college football and this year shouldn't be any different. Adam Schultz created an awesome hype video for the Spartans and if it's any...

College Football, Overtime Some people dread the weight room. Tennessee football players can't wait to go. The Volunteers made their "Night Lift" look like the 40/40 Club, completely with a DJ and neon...

College Football The Jordan Stevenson sweepstakes ended on Thursday when the former South Oak Cliff (Texas) High School running back was academically cleared to enroll at Nebraska. The recruiting win for...

College Football, Overtime Who says fans of rival teams can't make it work? Ohio State and Michigan are now bonded for life in some sort. Stephanie and Mike Stout took their wedding photos in the famous tunnel...

College Football, News The one-game suspension of four potential starters for Ohio State has slightly altered the outlook for the opener against Virginia Tech. The Buckeyes won’t need any reminder about how...

College Football Heading into the 2014 season, speculation about what life after AJ McCarron would bring for Alabama lingered around Tuscaloosa and the SEC like early-morning humidity in the South. While All-...

College Football With a 6-7 record last season, the Miami Hurricanes have more than a few things to work on during fall camp in August. Here is a look at five of the biggest and how Al Golden's team can...

College Football There have been 78 Heisman Trophies given out to 77 different players and only three times has the award gone to an ACC representative. On each of those occasions, a Florida State quarterback was...

NFL, News NFL training camps are opening up all across the nation, signaling the official return of pro football. Athlon Sports is going division by division, asking and (trying to) answering the biggest...

NFL, News The Pittsburgh Steelers are an enigma entering the 2015 NFL season. They would appear to be a team on the rise after an 11-5 regular season record and winning the toughest division in the league....

College Football Ohio State announced today that four key players would miss the Sept. 7 season opener against Virginia Tech. While it’s a big enough news story in and of itself, especially since one of the...

College Football On Thursday the Tennessee Volunteers landed running back Carlin Fils-Aime in a big head-to-head recruiting battle that included North Carolina, Miami, Auburn, and Georgia down the stretch. The...

College Football, News Ohio State will begin its national title defense without a couple of key players. According to a release from the school, defensive end Joey Bosa and receivers Corey Smith, Dontre Wilson and Jalin...

College Football, Overtime Ohio State's band is hot water following a report of a songbook making fun of Holocaust victims. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, a book by the famous band includes a...

College Football Arizona State is now part of the adidas family. adidas is now the official partner of the Pac-12 and the Sun Devils are the beneficiaries of some pretty sweet new uniforms. Their partnership...